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New Animal Protection Rules Announced for Indian Markets

May 27, 2017

India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests has introduced the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017, which restricts the sale of cows and buffaloes for meat at animal markets. These new rules follow a Supreme Court ruling and recommendations from the Animal Welfare Board of India.

The Supreme Court instructed the government to draft these new rules after a petition was filed by activist Gauri Maulekhi. Following which, Animal Equality presented an investigation inside these animal markets. What we discovered was shocking.

Across seven states we documented horrific images of animal cruelty. Animals are denied food, water, and shelter at the markets, some are prodded with sticks, fingers, or even have chili rubbed in their eyes to make them move.

The new rules announced by the government, which include recommendations from Animal Equality, provide for improved conditions for animals in these markets:

Cows and buffaloes will no longer be sold for slaughter in these markets

Prohibits cruel practices such as branding

Protections for pregnant animals

Prohibits excessive force and physical abuse

Amruta Ubale, Executive Director of Animal Equality in India says, “All these cruel practices are illegal as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 but there was no process in place to regulate these markets and hold them accountable. With these new rules, this gap has been filled.”

We are grateful to the Supreme Court of India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests for having introduced these protective measures that will improve the lives of animals.